Capital One Auto Finance Ripoff Illegal Collection Practices Internet

Capital One Auto Finance has FINALLY stopped harassing me. In addition to other ideas and suggestions I filed a report against COAF with the BBB. Soon after that I received a call from someone from COAF expressing remorse and promises that my name would be taken off the call list. That very day all calls from COAF stopped!

It took countless letters, phone calls, etc... to get them to stop. I have spent more time on this then I care to think about. My emotions have been all over the place. COAF should never have done this to me. They need to seriously re-consider their unethical way of debt collection. They need to hire collection agents who will LISTEN FIRST and give their customers the benifit of the doubt.

It is COAF's job to prove a debt is owed, not mine to prove it's not. Not everyone is a liar. And yet that is how COAF treated me. I told them over and over that I was not the person they were looking for, they refused to LISTEN. They were rude and at times downright threatening. No matter what I said or didn't say, no matter what I did.

They simply would not stop their harassment. No ONE deserves to be treated like that! I am thankful that this matter seems to be resolved. I hope it truly is. However I should not have had to put the time and energy in that I did. It has not been easy. It wasn't simply a matter of "not answering COAF's phone calls" as some suggested. COAF NEVER stopped calling. Even AFTER I stopped answering the phone. That wasn't the solution Juliet.

The solution was not giving up and not giving IN to COAF. Thanks for the great advice of those who responded to my report. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else. But it certainly could. I'm going back to my life now. Good luck everyone!

Allyson

I just found out a legal way that REQUIRES them to stop calling you or they can be sued. What you need to do is mail them a certified letter including your account number(If Possible), phone number, address, name and polite letter saying that you are requiring them to stop calling you and that the ONLY way you want any sort of contact with them is through letters. Photocopy the letter and send it certified so they cant claim that they never recieved it. Once they recieve it they CANT CALL YOU ANYMORE. If they do then you need to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and you can sue for a few thousand dollars and you WILL WIN. I hope this helps you.

By the sounds of it, there is probably a third party collection or skip company involved. While yes legally they are supposed to cease calling once you state that you do not know the person they are calling for or are no longer in touch and that it is your personal cell phone, many of them won't if they believe that you know where the person is.

The best option would be to report it every time they call (as earlier suggested) and fight it legally. They have no right to harass you like that when you aren't even their customer. As you stated before, I doubt Kyle gave them your number; but as skip tracers and collectors they have means of obtaining that information. Hope some of this helps and sorry I don't have an easier solution for you. There is no easy solution when it comes to stopping people from breaking the law or violating FDCPA.

Allyson, you said "I've never been in the position of having creditors call me for money I owed. I've been blessed to be able to pay my bills and have great credit."

The solution, to me, seems very simple. Loan Kyle the money he needs to pay back Capital One. Based on your comments, you obviously think of him as a very good and trustworthy friend, someone who deserves your friendship and your help. Otherwise your anger would be directed towards him instead of towards Capital One.

So, do yourself and your friend a favor and loan him the money to pay his debt to Capital One. They get paid, they stop calling you. You get your phone -- and your sanity -- back. You can work out a repayment plan that both you and Kyle can agree on. He has to deal with you, a friend, instead of the rude, anonymous collections agents. Everyone wins.

Allyson,

There are several more things to be done here and they all need to be done close together for best results.

First, you need to file a police report with your local police for the harassing calls, then use that police report to file a complaint with your phone provider who will enter the number into the nuisance call bureau for investigation.

Then take that local police report and forward it to the police dept in the town they are calling from. Go to whocalled.us and input the number to get the info on the caller.

File a separate complaint online at ftc.gov each time they call, as enforcement is done based on the number of complaints.

Send a CEASE COMMUNICATION request to them and clearly state the person they are looking for is not at the phone number they are calling and that he does not live with you and is not related to you. Explain that you are not on the account they are collecting on, and that any contact with you is a violation of federal law.

Demand that all communications cease immediately or a lawsuit will be filed immediately as well as criminal harassment and /or stalking charges will be filed.

Send this by certified mail, return reciept requested and be sure to put the certified# on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. It is very important to do it exactly this way as it proves exactly what you sent.

Also, STAY OFF THE PHONE. Just keep a log of time and date of each call and go to whocalled.us and input the info and to ftc.gov on each and every call.

If you get bored someday, call them 30 - 50 times and ask for someone else. Then before they can do anything hang up on them. See how they like it.

Or you can make about 150 copies of that CEASE COMM letter and fax it to every fax# they have just after the office closes. You will deplete all toner and paper and fill the memory, so when they come in and refill paper and toner it will start printing again from memory, and in the mean time you have disabled them from getting any of the faxes they want.

This itself usually stops the calls from any collector even if you do owe the money!

Have fun with these freaks.

5 Days of not answering my phone and COAF is STILL calling!

I wanted to thank Thomas and Kevin for their helpful advice. I have sent the cease and desist letter but I wasn't sure if I had the right address. The phone numbers I've had for COAF so far have not allowed me to talk to a live person. In fact the calls to customer service have been repeatedly disconnected. Kevin, thank you SO much for the address, names and e-mails of COAF officials. That's a HUGE help and I'm going to send e-mails to each one. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I am moving to another state in about 3 weeks so I was trying to delay changing my phone number, thus having to change it again after I move. However I've decided it's just something I'm going to have to do.

Kevin I don't want to sink to COAF's level by cussing them out, it's just not something I could do. I laughed however when I read your idea about blowing a whistle in the phone. I'm almost embarrassed to admit this but before I stopped answering my phone I would hold it up to my Dog who barked and growled like crazy into the handset. I know that is kind of childish but it DID relieve stress as you said. I coudln't stop laughing just thinking of the expressions on those collection agents faces. It didn't work because they are still calling but at least I have a funny story to tell.

Thanks Everyone

I realize you are sending the cease communication letter... However, I have two choices that you can take to resolve this matter once and for all while the cease communication letter is in process of being worked (by the way send it certified mail return receipt requested so you can see day and time it is signed)..

Option 1 -- call up their corporate headquarters.. I have provided that information for you here with the list of executives with whom you can speak..

Capital One Financial Corp.
1680 Capital One Drive
McLean, VA 22102
United States - Map
Phone: 703-720-1000

Here is the list of executives...

Mr. Richard D. Fairbank , 56
Founder, Exec. Chairman, Chief Exec. Officer and Pres

Mr. Gary L. Perlin , 55
Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Exec. VP

Mr. Dave Lawson , 59
Pres of COAF of COAF

Mr. Gregor S. Bailar , 43
Chief Information Officer

Mr. John G. Finneran Jr., 57
Sec. and Gen. Counsel

Try sending an e-mail to them in one of these formats:

I.e. dave.lawson@capitalone.com , dlawson@capitalone.com , dave_lawson@capitalone.com , david.lawson@capitalone.com , david_lawson@capitalone.com

Or when you call ask for that persons office.. I.e. Dave Lawson's office please and make your complaint....

-----------------------------

Option 2:

When the collection agent calls, CUSS OUT THE REP and/or make loud noises (blow a whistle into the phone)... While it may tick them off, guess what.. they will stop calling....

Keep repeating the process.. It would relieve much of your stress.... You know what I mean....

Allyson writes:
'AS of midnight tonight I have NOT answered the phone for 4 DAYS! ("Taken the bait") Guess what? They are STILL calling!!''

Four days isn't long enough to discourage them.

You have not upset me, in any way, Allyson.

Good luck, and I do mean that sincerely.

1. I use two (2!) answering machines, with the 'first' machine set to 2 rings and the second machine set to 4 rings for overflow. Think 'daisy chain'. If #2 is answering, #1 is full. (If I could select 1 ring, I would do so.)

2. I do not have any collection agencies calling, but I do get telemarketers and pests. The telemarketers use autodialers, and autodialers usually, but not always, hang up as soon as they reach an answering machine. The pests usually simply hang up either before the machine answers or right after the machine's prerecorded "Hello, please leave a message..."

3. I also get business calls and family calls. These folk ALWAYS leave a message. No call is such a life and death matter that it must be immediately answered.

4. Sometimes I am handy enough that I can hear the answering machine's speaker allowing me to identify the caller whereupon I may or may not decide to pickup the telephone.

5. I leave my cellphone 'off' except when I am either using it or when I expect a 'special' call.

6. I do not bother looking at caller ID.

An additional approach is to contact the telephone company's customer service and ask for their help to prevent 'telephone harassment' because a telephone call IS an invasion of your home. I never tried this so if you do it tell us if it helped.

To All those of you who posted intelligent posts giving helpful advice, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! (Steve,Bradley and the others.) I can't understand why others are slamming someone they don't even know. I've done NOTHING wrong! Juliet and John were especially mean spirited. I first posted on this site to get advice as to how I could fix the problem. Steve is really the only one who helped me do that. Second I came on to vent my frustration about what I'm going through. I thought I could trade stories and learn how others dealt with something like this. Except for Steve's post that has not been the case.

The REASON Juliet I have repeated certain things in my posts (Including this one) is because of people like you who are slamming or critisizing (sp?) me for certain things I already explained in previous posts. So I write it again and again hoping it will somehow get THROUGH. And I will continue to do this no matter how much you put me down for it. For example: I wrote over and over that this person who owes the money was my former roomate. Yet in one of the most recent posts someone (John I think) calls him my "boyfriend"...Where did he get that from??? This same person wrote, "You FINALLY admitted he owed the bill." I NEVER denied he owed the bill! In fact on my May 2nd post I wrote, "He does owe this bill. He acknowleges he owes this bill"!!!! So why would John write that I'm only NOW admitting it? That is CLEARLY not true? He also wrote that my former roomate must have given COAF my number because it's the ONLY way they could have gotten it. As I have ALREADY posted-(Yes Juliet, more than once, BECAUSE I've been accused of this more then once.)COAF got my number because we USED to share a cell phone plan and both our numbers were listed on this. COAF even admitted it!!! These clueless posts are exactly WHY I have to post over and over again. Because some people don't get it the FIRST time! It's like....Did you EVEN read the post or were you just so excited to insult me you made it up as you went along??? This is MY issue and I can post as much as I want to. 3x's, 10x's as MUCH or as LITTLE as I want! People take the time to post and I feel like it's only polite to answer their posts. When you file a report with Rip-Off you are ASKED by the moderators to file REGULAR updates. Including this post I have posted 4 times. That is 4 posts in about 2 weeks. That is hardly the excessive amount Juliet claims. And thank you for your concern but 4 posts haven't taken much time out of my "work and family". The CALLS are what are taking the time. Juliet accusing me of "Not wanting to hear solutions to my problem" makes my point that she has clearly not read my posts. Once again, If you had READ my update you would have read that I AM INDEED working on the solutions Steve and others have given me. Those ideas won't solve this problem overnight, but again....Are you listening? I HAVE been working on them! I do appreciate your idea about setting special ringtones for family and friends. I hadn't thought of that and it's a GREAT idea! Thank You! Otherwise as again I wrote in my previous post...I tried turning off my phone but I couldn't risk missing important calls. If I don't check my phone everytime it rings (Even if it IS 40) HOW will I know it's NOT family and friends? You DON'T check YOUR phone everytime it rings??? Incidently Juliet, your remark about me being as passive-aggressive as COAF must not be true. AS of midnight tonight I have NOT answered the phone for 4 DAYS! ("Taken the bait") Guess what? They are STILL calling!!! So Juliet's "THAT IS WHY IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ME!" makes me say back to her,... "Heavens Juliet, get a grip!!!" It certainly COULD happen to you. If you don't like me posting as much as I do then I have a simple solution: Don't read them! Don't take the time to reply.

Different people have different opinions and different ways of doing things. Just because I may not be handling this thing the way other people would does not mean I'm doing it wrong. I am doing the best I can! I've never been in the position of having creditors call me for money I owed. I've been blessed to be able to pay my bills and have great credit. But that doesn't make me better then someone who's fallen on hard times and can't. I don't understand how John can call my attitude "smug and too cool for the room". Where did he get that??? I'm the one who has said over and over we should STOP judging people and have compassion for them. In NO way do I think I'm too cool. Are you KIDDING me??? I gave cool up a long, LONG time ago in high school. In my last post I wrote at the very end, (WARNING:Repeating myself again Juliet!) "But for the grace of God there go I." I live by that! At least I try to. I'm not perfect and I make mistakes. Who doesn't??? How is that smug or cool??? Most people are aware of their shortcomings. And unless you know the person I don't think it's right to slam them. I'm not a writer! I may not write as well as others on this board. I didn't know that was a requirement. I am the owner of a small custom invitation business I do from home and I'm a Wife and Mom. THAT'S what I enjoy and that's what I'm hopefully good at. I am trying to be a good friend and do what I think is right. If you don't agree with me that's OKAY. But please stop judging me! I don't want to upset Juliet any more then I have so I WON'T defend my FRIEND again and repeat myself....But I will say, You DON'T know what has happened to him! You have NOT walked in his shoes! You have not walked in my shoes! Until you do please keep your negative, rude, mean comments to yourself. It isn't helpful and I don't think I've done anything to deserve it.

I wish everyone the BEST!
Allyson

Heavens Allyson, get a grip!!! No wonder you answer phone calls you know will go nowhere, you can't NOT post something 3 times, either. And written in 3 different ways, not even just copies of previous posts you may have thought didn't get posted after you submitted them. How busy does work and family keep you if you're able to check the phone EVERY time it rings, 40+ times a day, while writing repetitive, unneeded responses after the first one?

Evidently solutions to your issue are not what you want to hear.

Unwanted possible solution #1:
Can you program the ring tones on your phone so that you know who is calling? For family, one ring tone, for all unknown numbers, another tone altogether. And if they use the same numbers, how about a ring JUST FOR THEM so you don't have to stop what you're doing 40+ times a day to check the phone.

Unwanted possible solution #2:
Yeah, it's an INCONVENIENCE to change your phone #, I know that. But is it more inconvenient than receiving 40+ calls a day about a situation you have nothing to do with, and NO way of resolving?

That 1% of the time you answer is WHY THEY KEEP CALLING.

That is why it WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ME. After the first time or two, I would no longer answer, and without RECEIVING ENCOURAGEMENT TO KEEP CALLING, they would give up. They're just as passive/aggressive as you are, and that is WHY they keep calling, cause they know you will take the bait sooner or later.

Please don't respond 3 times to this, once is sufficient, and probably not necessary.

Heavens Allyson, get a grip!!! No wonder you answer phone calls you know will go nowhere, you can't NOT post something 3 times, either. And written in 3 different ways, not even just copies of previous posts you may have thought didn't get posted after you submitted them. How busy does work and family keep you if you're able to check the phone EVERY time it rings, 40+ times a day, while writing repetitive, unneeded responses after the first one?

Evidently solutions to your issue are not what you want to hear.

Unwanted possible solution #1:
Can you program the ring tones on your phone so that you know who is calling? For family, one ring tone, for all unknown numbers, another tone altogether. And if they use the same numbers, how about a ring JUST FOR THEM so you don't have to stop what you're doing 40+ times a day to check the phone.

Unwanted possible solution #2:
Yeah, it's an INCONVENIENCE to change your phone #, I know that. But is it more inconvenient than receiving 40+ calls a day about a situation you have nothing to do with, and NO way of resolving?

That 1% of the time you answer is WHY THEY KEEP CALLING.

That is why it WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ME. After the first time or two, I would no longer answer, and without RECEIVING ENCOURAGEMENT TO KEEP CALLING, they would give up. They're just as passive/aggressive as you are, and that is WHY they keep calling, cause they know you will take the bait sooner or later.

Please don't respond 3 times to this, once is sufficient, and probably not necessary.

Heavens Allyson, get a grip!!! No wonder you answer phone calls you know will go nowhere, you can't NOT post something 3 times, either. And written in 3 different ways, not even just copies of previous posts you may have thought didn't get posted after you submitted them. How busy does work and family keep you if you're able to check the phone EVERY time it rings, 40+ times a day, while writing repetitive, unneeded responses after the first one?

Evidently solutions to your issue are not what you want to hear.

Unwanted possible solution #1:
Can you program the ring tones on your phone so that you know who is calling? For family, one ring tone, for all unknown numbers, another tone altogether. And if they use the same numbers, how about a ring JUST FOR THEM so you don't have to stop what you're doing 40+ times a day to check the phone.

Unwanted possible solution #2:
Yeah, it's an INCONVENIENCE to change your phone #, I know that. But is it more inconvenient than receiving 40+ calls a day about a situation you have nothing to do with, and NO way of resolving?

That 1% of the time you answer is WHY THEY KEEP CALLING.

That is why it WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ME. After the first time or two, I would no longer answer, and without RECEIVING ENCOURAGEMENT TO KEEP CALLING, they would give up. They're just as passive/aggressive as you are, and that is WHY they keep calling, cause they know you will take the bait sooner or later.

Please don't respond 3 times to this, once is sufficient, and probably not necessary.

Heavens Allyson, get a grip!!! No wonder you answer phone calls you know will go nowhere, you can't NOT post something 3 times, either. And written in 3 different ways, not even just copies of previous posts you may have thought didn't get posted after you submitted them. How busy does work and family keep you if you're able to check the phone EVERY time it rings, 40+ times a day, while writing repetitive, unneeded responses after the first one?

Evidently solutions to your issue are not what you want to hear.

Unwanted possible solution #1:
Can you program the ring tones on your phone so that you know who is calling? For family, one ring tone, for all unknown numbers, another tone altogether. And if they use the same numbers, how about a ring JUST FOR THEM so you don't have to stop what you're doing 40+ times a day to check the phone.

Unwanted possible solution #2:
Yeah, it's an INCONVENIENCE to change your phone #, I know that. But is it more inconvenient than receiving 40+ calls a day about a situation you have nothing to do with, and NO way of resolving?

That 1% of the time you answer is WHY THEY KEEP CALLING.

That is why it WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ME. After the first time or two, I would no longer answer, and without RECEIVING ENCOURAGEMENT TO KEEP CALLING, they would give up. They're just as passive/aggressive as you are, and that is WHY they keep calling, cause they know you will take the bait sooner or later.

Please don't respond 3 times to this, once is sufficient, and probably not necessary.

You're hiding your boyfriend who you FINALLY admitted is not paying his bill. He gave them your number-regardless of what he might say. There is no other way for them to get it-other you or him.

Your somehow smug too-cool-for-the-room attitude that you are somehow doing Cap One's job is laughable. They ARE doing their job-you have info on where the deadbeat is-they are asking you for it-you are not providing it. That's all you have to do-quite simple really. Now, if they keep calling after you give them the correct info, and he's not hunkering down there periodically, and they call-then you have a legit complaint.

Dear Juliet,

Please read my most recent post above.

In regards to your comments:

"I am not a glutton for punishment-Don't pick up or hang up-How hard is THAT?"

So you'd be okay with getting up to 40 calls per DAY from 8am to 9pm? Picking up 40 plus times and hanging up 40 plus times???? That is crazy!

I do have caller ID and I use it. I do not answer 99% of COAF's calls. However not answering is NOT going to get them to stop calling. It is NOT as simple as just not talking to them. The 99% of the times I don't answer??? When you get a call you have to stop what your doing and look to see who's calling. Even if you don't choose to answer it is STILL a big hassle to stop what your doing 40 plus times a day just to look at your caller ID. You think that is so easy???? I think not! You need to put yourself in someone else's shoes and really think about what you writing. Your post made no sense at all. I appreciate your taking the time to post but I am SO tired of being judged by people who have no clue what I'm going through.

You have obviously Not been reading my posts. I am neither a glutton for punishment or stupid. I have caller ID and I do not answer the phone unless I recognize the phone number. But when you are recieving 10-15 calls per day (At the start) and then 20-40 per calls a day (Currently) you'd like to know what's going on. 99% of the time I DON'T answer the phone. But not answering the phone, not talking to them, is NOT going to make them stop calling. What do you do when your phone rings? You stop what your doing and check to see who's calling. What if your phone was ringing up to 50 plus times per day (Friends as well as COAF)? That's a LOT of stopping what your doing to check your phone! AFter WEEKS of it you'd be as sick of it as I am. I have tried turning off my phone during the day. But as they call 7 days a week up until 9:00PM that is not a realistic solution. I have a child, family and I cannot risk missing important calls. Just the other day I missed a very important meeting because I had my phone turned off because of COAF. I am currently in the process of trying some of the productive consumer suggestions I recieved here on the boards. But until that time it is not as easy as simply "not answering my phone". I wish it were! Why don't you walk in my shoes before you judge me or anyone else. Both my former roomate and I have continued to try and call COAF customer service and or other numbers we have for them. We are trying to get ahold of someone other then their collection agents who refuse to simply LISTEN. We ARE trying just about everything. Each and EVERY time we attempt to make contact our calls are disconnected. It is impossible to talk to anyone except their low-paying, harrassing collection agents. And as I have said in the above posts....The few times I do answer and actually try to talk to these people, they either refuse to listen by talking over me, or they hang up immedietly after I say "I am not the person you are looking for and..." click they hang up.

To the man who posted about protecting our "deadbeat" friends by refusing to give COAf their contact information......... All I can say is everybody has their own opinions and values. To me this has become much more then just my roomates not being able to pay his bill....It's about what is right and what is wrong. I will not help COAF do THEIR job. (That's what they get the big money for-LOL!!!) I will not reward them with information for making my life HELL these past few weeks. If I did so??? That my friend would truly be "unbelieveable"... I and the other gentleman who posted have a right to our own opinion without being judged. I try to never forget......."But for the grace of God, their go I." Don't ever think it can't happen to you because it can!

Thanks to everyone who has posted!

You have obviously Not been reading my posts. I am neither a glutton for punishment or stupid. I have caller ID and I do not answer the phone unless I recognize the phone number. But when you are recieving 10-15 calls per day (At the start) and then 20-40 per calls a day (Currently) you'd like to know what's going on. 99% of the time I DON'T answer the phone. But not answering the phone, not talking to them, is NOT going to make them stop calling. What do you do when your phone rings? You stop what your doing and check to see who's calling. What if your phone was ringing up to 50 plus times per day (Friends as well as COAF)? That's a LOT of stopping what your doing to check your phone!

AFter WEEKS of it you'd be as sick of it as I am. I have tried turning off my phone during the day. But as they call 7 days a week up until 9:00PM that is not a realistic solution. I have a child, family and I cannot risk missing important calls. Just the other day I missed a very important meeting because I had my phone turned off because of COAF. I am currently in the process of trying some of the productive consumer suggestions I recieved here on the boards. But until that time it is not as easy as simply "not answering my phone". I wish it were! Why don't you walk in my shoes before you judge me or anyone else. Both my former roomate and I have continued to try and call COAF customer service and or other numbers we have for them.

We are trying to get ahold of someone other then their collection agents who refuse to simply LISTEN. We ARE trying just about everything. Each and EVERY time we attempt to make contact our calls are disconnected. It is impossible to talk to anyone except their low-paying, harrassing collection agents. And as I have said in the above posts. The few times I do answer and actually try to talk to these people, they either refuse to listen by talking over me, or they hang up immedietly after I say "I am not the person you are looking for and.." click they hang up.

To the man who posted about protecting our "deadbeat" friends by refusing to give COAf their contact information. All I can say is everybody has their own opinions and values. To me this has become much more then just my roomates not being able to pay his bill. It's about what is right and what is wrong. I will not help COAF do THEIR job. (That's what they get the big money for-LOL!) I will not reward them with information for making my life HELL these past few weeks. If I did so? That my friend would truly be "unbelieveable" I and the other gentleman who posted have a right to our own opinion without being judged. I try to never forget."But for the grace of God, their go I." Don't ever think it can't happen to you because it can!

Thanks to everyone who has posted!
Allyson

I don't have anyone calling me about others peoples debts, thankfully, but even still, I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the number. If it's important, they leave a message.

If I didn't have caller i.d., and some place kept calling me about SOMEBODY ELSE, WHY KEEP TALKING TO THEM? Why don't you hang up as soon as you know they are calling about something that isn't your problem?

I don't understand THAT at all. However, I am also not a glutton for punishment.

If this person is receiving mail at your address, would you open all of it, and attend to their business via the mail, as well?

Don't answer, or hang up. How hard are those to do?

This also helps eliminate annoying telemarketing calls. If you don't talk to them, they can't rip you off.

"Even though I know this person is a dead beat I still refused to give them his contact information. I felt giving them this information would be condoning the way they treated me."

This philosophy of yours is screwy, to say the least. You and the OP seem to like being used and taken advantage of by your "friends". You don't give the creditor his contact information because it "would be condoning the way they treated" you -- and at the same time, you're condoning the poor way your "friend" treats you. Unbelievable.

"I just know I would never loan him money as I would probably never see a dime of it paid back to me."

That should give you more reason -- not less -- to tell the creditors his contact info.

"Even though I know this person is a dead beat I still refused to give them his contact information. I felt giving them this information would be condoning the way they treated me."

This philosophy of yours is screwy, to say the least. You and the OP seem to like being used and taken advantage of by your "friends". You don't give the creditor his contact information because it "would be condoning the way they treated" you -- and at the same time, you're condoning the poor way your "friend" treats you. Unbelievable.

"I just know I would never loan him money as I would probably never see a dime of it paid back to me."

That should give you more reason -- not less -- to tell the creditors his contact info.

"Even though I know this person is a dead beat I still refused to give them his contact information. I felt giving them this information would be condoning the way they treated me."

This philosophy of yours is screwy, to say the least. You and the OP seem to like being used and taken advantage of by your "friends". You don't give the creditor his contact information because it "would be condoning the way they treated" you -- and at the same time, you're condoning the poor way your "friend" treats you. Unbelievable.

"I just know I would never loan him money as I would probably never see a dime of it paid back to me."

That should give you more reason -- not less -- to tell the creditors his contact info.

I am so sick of people judging other people without knowing anything about them. I do know a lot of people over the years that are dead beats and deserve to be named as such.

The sad part is that many people run into situations out of their control and get labeled dead beats.

What happens when you lose your job and only have enough money to pay for so many things? Are you going to pay your mortgage/rent or your car payment? Will you buy food and other needs or pay the car payment.

If I was to look at this person's situation and not the reasons for it I would say they are just a dead beat. This is the reason I would never say something like this unless I know all the facts.

Anyone can run into hard times in a matter of minutes and no amount of planning can prepare anyone for ever problem.

Lets say you get laid off and two months later you have a massive heart attack due to the stress from not being able to find a job in this global economy.

The medical bills run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars and without medical coverage you are responsible for all the bills. I guess I would just have to call you a dead beat. I mean if you would not have had the heart attack you would not be having this problem now would you.

America, the nation that is suppose to be caring and yet so many people love to call other people names and relish the misfortunes of other people. Too many Americans enjoy seeing other people crash and burn regardless of the reason.

As far as the phone calls are concerned. I had a roommate years ago who owed thousands of dollars to a credit card company.

Now this roommate was/is truly a dead beat when it comes to paying bills and I had to fight with Banco Popular for months before they took my phone number off their list.

I was treated with no respect and the collection agents would stop at nothing to try to get me to admit that I am someone other than myself.

The only thing that finally worked was asking them for their name because I was going to sue them for harassment. It took about 4 phone calls of saying this before it finally worked. This was after literally hundreds of phone calls from Banco Popular within a few days.

Even though I know this person is a dead beat I still refused to give them his contact information. I felt giving them this information would be condoning the way they treated me. If everyone did this maybe they would have to be nice for once.

I am a very kind person by nature but when someone starts threatening me I get angry and will fight back. A friend is a friend whether a dead beat when it comes to their bills or not.

I just know I would never loan him money as I would probably never see a dime of it paid back to me.

We Americans needs to start working together and helping each other out instead of everyone trying to screw over the next guy to get ahead and in the long run we all end up with nothing! Name calling does not fix the problem nor does it help anything get accomplished.

After reading your report, all the other rebuttal's and comments, and after dealing with Capital One for 2 years with my credit card, I will give you my suggestion on how to deal with them.

Should they call you back, immediately tell them that you are a FORMER roommate of his and that you not only dont have any kind of connection with him but dont know anything about the debt. Than tell that person that you dont know how to get in contact with Kyle and that your number is private, and that you will call the police and file harrassment charges if the calls dont stop.

That alone should stop the calls but if they dont stop, than tell her the same exact thing over again but threaten a lawsuit for harrassment if the calls dont stop. That will most likely scare them straight. If they dont stop after that, than really do file a complaint with the police and a lawsuit for harrassment.

Hope everything works out for you.

I'd like to thank the 2 people who took the time to respond to my complaint. To Steve from Florida: Your advice was great! I will certainly look into all the options and let you know how it turns out. Thank you so much for your help. To Marty from Arizona: I also appreciate you taking the time to respond to my complaint. However you are very wrong in your opinion of my former roomate. He is neither a slimebag nor a piece of crap. He is in fact a GREAT human being. You do not know him, I do! He is not putting me through hell, COAF is doing that all on their own. My former roomate did not give COAF my phone number. COAF got my number because Kyle and I used to share a cell phone account plan. (It was more economical to be on the same plan) Kyle has tried to call COAF again and again. When he calls he is put through to a automated phone system. It says it will transfer you to customer service, etc. and then your phone call is disconnected. Over and OVER again! I know this is true because I too have tried to call and my calls were disconnected as well. Every SINGLE time! Kyle has apologzed over and over. He is sincerely sorry for what is happening to me. He has also filed complaints and tried to get my number taken off the call list. He calls me every single day to apologize and we are working together to try and find a solution. I am very thankful to get the advice from Steve from Florida and hopefully doing those things will end this situation for me. Kyle HAS told me again and again to give COAF his contact info. It is I who refuse to do so. As I stated in my original report: Why should I help COAF do THEIR job? And as for Marty's opinion that I am protecting a deadbeat: I am not the kind of person to throw anyone under the bus. Why should I help people who I know will only threaten and harrass? Prehaps if COAF had been polite and professional to me, but they were not. Giving COAF Kyle's contact info would be giving in to their harrassment and threats. It would justify what they do and that's something I cannot do. COAF is wasting THEIR time and money attempting to collect from a party who does not owe this debt. If they would simply LISTEN instead of talking over and/or hanging up they could spend their time and resources finding the responsible party and collect on this debt the RIGHT way.

Now to all you people including Marty who say: Kyle is a deadbeat because he owes a bill to COAF and he deserves what he get's. Did no one read my most recent post about compassion and empathy? Anyone? Anywhere? Are all of you so perfect? Have you never fallen on hard times? Has anything out of your control ever happened that made it difficult to keep your bills current? I am blessed to have a family and the finances so that something like this has not happened to me. But what if I didn't? How can Marty and all the others judge people so self-righteously? People they know nothing about! What gives Marty the right to call someone he's never met such awful names? Have you walked in Kyle's shoes Marty? Do you know what he's gone through the last year? Well I do! And though I am not going to divulge the details of Kyle's private matters here. I will say that what has happened to him, what has made him unable to pay his auto payment is NOT HIS FAULT! I know for a fact that he is doing the best he can....Everything he can, to get this bill paid as soon as HUMANLY possible. Prehaps if Kyle gives me his blessing then I will be able to share what has happened to him. I will say that it is something that could happen to ANYONE, including you Marty. And it's not something I would wish on anyone. Even people who can't show compassion or feel just a little empathy for their fellow American.

Kyle does owe this bill to COAF. He acknowledges that and intends to pay it in FULL ASAP. COAF certainly has a right to collect what they are owed. They have a right to reclaim cars that are not being paid for. They are a business and they employ people who have a right to do their job in peace without harrassment from people who they are collecting from. If people don't pay their bills then other people loose their jobs and can't pay their bills. I am NOT disputing COAF's right to collect....I AM disputing their methods! Their is NO justification for debtors to be harrassad, threatened and called degrading names. Collectors are just lowering themselves and showing their lack of integrity when they do that. When Kyle missed his last 2 payments he was reported to the credit agencies. And generally when someone can't pay 1 bill, they have fallen behind on others. I think it's safe to assume that if Kyle's credit hasn't already been ruined....It's about to be. If it should come to repossesment then that will be on his record for 10 years. HE'S BEEN PUNISHED ENOUGH!!! He doesn't deserve to be called a slimebag and deadbeat. That is just so wrong. Is this what we've come to? Judging people we know nothing about? Unless you have walked in someone's shoes you have no right to cast judgment upon them. Whatever happened to taking the plank out of your own eye??? Or He who is without sin throw the first stone??? We need to STOP stoning eachother! We need to work out our own issues!!! And we could ALL use a little bit more compassion!!!

I'm sorry if this is too preachy, but this has just opened my eyes to how negative and judging people can be.....You look at someone and it's so easy to think their problems could never happen to you or that you'd never do THAT.....But you just never know...........Oh the stories I could tell......And the lessons I have learned when I have done just such a thing.....

By the way Marty, in answer to your question...........I did get paid all rent that was due by this very good, honest and decent man!

It's pretty apparent that your ex-roomate gave them your personal cell phone number in an attempt to avoid the hell that he's putting you through.

Your ex roomate sounds like a piece of crap, and you need to return the favor and give HIS contact information and be done with this. There would be no other way they could get your number unless he gave it out to them, or you did, which is apparent you didn't.

I don't know why you are protecting this deadbeat. He certainly has no regard for you.

BTW: How much rent did stiff you for?

Allyson,

First, go to your local police station and file a complaint for the harassment and intimidation you are suffering. Get a copy of the report. Send a copy of this report to the jurisdiction of where they are calling from.

Go to whocalled.us and input the numbers from your caller id and find out exactly who they are and also file your own complaint.

Then go to ftc.gov and file a new complaint each time they call. Enforcement by the FTC is brought on the number of complaints filed.

I doubt this is actually Capital One calling. It is probably a third party collector.

Now,

All it takes is one letter as per your rights under the FDCPA to stop the calls.

Then when they violate this legal request, you sue them for the blatant FDCPA violation, and get paid.

You need to send a CEASE COMMUNICATIONS request as per your rights under the FDCPA. Keep it short and sweet.

Inform them that you are not the person they are looking for and are in no way liable for the debt in question. Then specify the numbers they are calling and demand that all communications cease immediately and that failure to comply will bring a lawsuit as provided for under the FDCPA.

Send this letter by certified mail, return reciept requested. Be sure to put the certified# on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. This procedure is VERY important.

Don't get mad, GET PAID!!

COAF continues to call me up to 15 times per day. Beginning at 8am and ending about 9pm. Most times I can't even get out: "I am not the person you are looking for and. Click they hang up. I have had a few collection agents promise to take me off their call list but the calls continue. This is REALLY starting to effect me emotionally.

I don't owe any money to anyone! Except for a mortgage payment I pay cash for everything. If I can't pay in cash then I can't afford it. This is the first time I've had to deal with a collection agent. And it's not even my bill! I have talked to my former roomate and he says he has tried to get them to stop calling me. They continue to call.

I refuse to give them my former roomates contact info. Why should I do their job? And why would I ever help them now? I don't want to be involved in any way! I am not a co-signer! I am just a single mother who pays her bills and tries to live the best life I can. I always try to find the positive in a situation.

What positive can I possibly find in this? It's opened my eyes to the lack of compassion and empathy in people. I have read some posts here that amaze me by their cruelty and lack of compassion. Not everyone who can't pay their bills is a deadbeat.

When my ex-husband stole over $250,000 from me, I was blessed to have family who could help me keep my bills current until I got back on my feet. But what if I didn't have that? What then? Because of another persons actions I wouldn't have been able to pay my bills. Would I have deserved to be treated like a piece of dirt? Called names and assumed to be a deadbeat? Things happen people.

People can have the best intentions in the world until something out of their control happens and they fall behind on their bills. For those of you who judge so rightously you better be careful.

NO ONE is immune to hard times. "The rain falls on the just just like it does on the un-just." And yes, companies such as COAF have right to collect what is owed to them. They do not have a right to treat people inhumane. I watched a show on Dateline recently that showed just how ruthless and harrassing collection agents can be. One man even committed suicide in part because of the extreme harrassment he recieved. Dateline played tape after tape of these unethical bill collectors tormenting person after person. The names they called them, the threats they used. It made me sick.

You can collect on a bill without resorting to those tactics. I've read the posts by bill collectors saying how bad THEY have been treated. Well I'm sorry but you are calling OUR homes! YOU are supposed to be the professional. YOU are repersenting your company. If you'd listen more and talk less, if you tried compassion instead of harrassment. Then maybe, just maybe, you'd have more success.

I can't even count the number of calls I've recieved. (I don't answer most of them.) But I have yet to get even ONE agent who will LISTEN to me. They all act like you are lying. How do I prove I am not the person they are looking for??? I have made reoports to the Better Business Bureau (Waiting to hear back) as well as here on ripoff reoports. I've also consulted an attorney.

Everytime I get a call from COAF my heart pounds and my blood pressure goes up. If I pick up the phone and actually talk to them it's even worse. How is ANY of this going to get COAF their money??? How is this helping their company be successful?

COAF should be ASHAMED of theirselves. By doing just a few google searches, and a little research, it wasn't hard to find out that COAF has had MANY, MANY, MANY bad/negative complaints against their collection practices. I can't believe their upper managment is not aware of what is going on. Why don't they do something about it?

I am wasting my valuable time on this whole thing, but I am so mad and it's just so wrong. I can't just stay quiet. Please, is there anyone out there who can help me? Advice? Anything!